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support for UN principles is past 100 mark

December 2006

The number of signatories to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment has passed 120.

The principles were originally backed by 18 institutional investors and
32 asset owners, but that number has increased rapidly in recent
months. By the middle of November there were 127 signatories - 48 asset
owners, 49 investment managers and 30 'professional service partners'
such as rating agencies and index providers.

Signatories from more than 20 countries, including Brazil, Ecuador,
Iceland and Malaysia, have now joined the original companies from nine
nations - mainly European - that backed the principles in May.

In doing so, they undertake to take account of social and environmental
issues when analysing companies and exercizing ownership rights.They
are also expected to report publicly on their own social and
environmental performance and to press other investors to follow suit.
The principles were devised by the UN Environment Programme's Finance
Initiative and the UN Global Compact.